Artificial dyes
Synthetic colours added to food, cosmetics and textiles, most of them petroleum derived. Several are restricted in the EU while still permitted in the United States, and some carry warning labels there that never appear here. Colour adds nothing to how a product works.
Definition and health context from FDA.
We checked 3,681 products and found artificial dyes reported or likely in 9 of them.
Where artificial dyes turns up
Categories we grade, worst first, as a share of what we scored in each.
| Category | Flagged | Scored | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scrubs | 7 | 8 | 88% |
| Stain-Resistant Bed Sheets | 12 | 15 | 80% |
| Performance Socks | 12 | 15 | 80% |
| Cosmetics | 6 | 8 | 75% |
| Neckties | 11 | 15 | 73% |
| Waterproof Boots | 33 | 47 | 70% |
| Curtains | 10 | 15 | 67% |
| Clothing | 6 | 9 | 67% |
| Activewear | 22 | 35 | 63% |
| Running Shoes | 15 | 24 | 63% |
| Stain-Resistant Jeans | 9 | 15 | 60% |
| Couches | 11 | 20 | 55% |
| Cycling Jackets | 14 | 28 | 50% |
| Area Rugs | 7 | 15 | 47% |
Where we found real evidence
Reported or likely, lowest scoring first. Not plausibility.
New nylon carpet and topical stain treatments emit VOCs, particularly in the first 72 hours. While some Stainmaster lines carry GREENGUARD Gold certification, this specific product (7L879) has no listed certification; off-gassing should be expected and mitigat
Pigments in foundations have been found in trace amounts to contain lead, cadmium, or arsenic in various brands' testing. L'Oréal sources have not published specific heavy metal testing results for this product line; risk remains within industry baseline but u
Silicone allergy is rare but documented in medical literature. Lena cups come in opaque colors (black, clear); no information is published on pigment sourcing or heavy metal content in dyes, but no complaints have been attributed to Lena specifically.
Polyester microfiber, polyurethane foam, and synthetic adhesives release VOCs such as toluene and xylene during the first 1-3 months. This is normal for mass-produced upholstered furniture but can trigger respiratory irritation in sensitive individuals.
Zinc pyrithione is a zinc compound approved for cosmetic use and is not inherently contaminated with cadmium or lead if manufactured to standard. However, some independent testing of shampoos has occasionally detected trace heavy metals; Head & Shoulders does
Long-term use of high-concentration aluminum chloride can cause yellow or brown discoloration of clothing and, rarely, temporary skin staining or hyperpigmentation in sensitive individuals. This is cosmetic rather than a toxicological hazard but indicates chem
Standard shampoo preservatives prevent microbial growth but are known contact allergens in sensitive individuals. Product formulation varies by region; some versions contain MI (methylisothiazolinone), flagged by dermatologists as a rising cause of scalp derma
Mainstream shampoos including Redken products commonly use preservatives such as methylisothiazolinone. Rare allergic contact dermatitis has been documented in sensitive individuals; incidence is low but not zero. Patch testing or ingredient checking is advisa
Iron oxides and FD&C lakes used in lipstick are regulated color additives; lead and cadmium contamination in cosmetic pigments is rare in major brands. No reported contamination in Estée Lauder Pure Color Matte.
What to buy instead
Highest scoring products with no flag for it, in the categories where it is worst.
- bareMinerals bareMinerals Mineral Makeup100
- Bed Bath & Beyond The Gray Barn Sleeping Hills 3M Microcell All Season Moisture Wicking Lightweight Sheet Set75
- Brooklinen Classic Cooling Percale Core Sheet Set in Blue, Twin| Brooklinen Official Store75
- Brooklinen Brooklinen Heathered Cashmere Core Sheet Set75
- Aramark Aramark Uniform Work Shirt Employee Short Sleeve White Snap Button Up65
- Darn Tough Darn Tough Men's Run Micro Crew Ultra-Lightweight Running Socks65
Common questions
What is artificial dyes?
Synthetic colours added to food, cosmetics and textiles, most of them petroleum derived. Several are restricted in the EU while still permitted in the United States, and some carry warning labels there that never appear here. Colour adds nothing to how a product works.
Which products contain artificial dyes?
Of the 3,681 products we have graded, 432 are flagged for it and 9 on reported or likely evidence rather than plausibility. Scrubs & Work Uniforms is the worst category at 88% of what we scored there.
Is artificial dyes in scrubs & work uniforms?
More than in anything else we grade. 7 of the 8 scrubs & work uniforms we scored carry a flag for it, which is 88%. The full breakdown per product is on each product page.
What can I buy instead?
In the categories where it turns up most, the highest scoring products with no flag for it are bareMinerals bareMinerals Mineral Makeup at 100, Bed Bath & Beyond The Gray Barn Sleeping Hills 3M Microcell All Season Moisture Wicking Lightweight Sheet Set at 75, Brooklinen Classic Cooling Percale Core Sheet Set in Blue, Twin| Brooklinen Official Store at 75. Every one of those was graded on the same rubric as the products above.
How do you know?
We do not lab test. Every grade here is built from published ingredient lists, materials, certifications, brand disclosures, recalls and third party lab results where those already exist. Where a product has been independently tested we use that result and say so, and where a brand publishes nothing we score the silence rather than guessing.
12% of everything we grade carries a flag for artificial dyes. See every hazard we track or browse the full products list.